By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brian Sloan
YOKOSUKA, Japan – The History and Heritage Committee aboard the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) held a holocaust remembrance ceremony on the ship’s mess deck, April 10.
Cmdr. Ronnie Citro, the dental officer aboard George Washington, served as a guest speaker and urged Sailors to remember and reflect upon one of the most tragic events in world history.
“It’s critical that we remember such tragic events,” said Citro. “We must remind ourselves to never become indifferent to the suffering of others.”
The ceremony also included a video titled, “Why We Remember the Holocaust.” It showed the damage that the Holocaust left upon humanity and stressed the importance of acting quickly against genocides.
“This is also a moment to honor those who were brave enough to stand up and put an end to the [Holocaust],” said Seaman Apprentice Tyler Derreberry, from Asheville, N.C. “The ceremony really showed how blessed we are to live in a country were we have the strength to stand up and fight such horrific acts.”
George Washington’s History and Heritage Committee held the ceremony in accordance with the annual eight-day period designated by United States Congress for civic commemorations and special educational programs that help citizens remember and draw lessons from the Holocaust.
George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.